Value of home renovations in the eye of beholder

Are you thinking about remodeling your drab kitchen? � Be warned: Remodeling projects will not always fill your pockets with cash when your home sells. In fact, you might not recoup the entire cost of the project. � Experts warn against dumping thousands of dollars into a renovation before researching the project.

"Know what other homes in your neighborhood are selling for," said Michelle Jennings Wiebe, founder and president of Studio M Interior Design in Tampa. "You want your home to be in a similar range. If you spend $100,000 on a kitchen remodel, and other similar comparable homes have $20,000 kitchens, then you will not recoup your investment. "

While the Great Recession forced many homeowners to delay selling their homes, kitchen remodels jumped 36 percent in the third quarter of 2011, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

The biggest issues that homeowners face with renovations are the problems that arise during demolition. Budgets should include money for unexpected expenses.

"I would recommend adding at least a 20 percent contingency to any budget," Wiebe said.

She offered these recommendations when tackling renovations:

� Hire a highly recommended general contractor with at least three references with past jobs comparable to your remodel job.

� If you are doing the work yourself, make sure you know what you are doing. It's common for homeowners to hire designers and contractors after attempting a renovation.

� For homes in a designated historical area, spend the extra money to keep historical elements, such as windows, doors, casings and any other unique architectural details. Take the time to research what was appropriate for the time era of your home.

The Internet is filled with remodeling guides where homeowners can estimate the cost of their renovation.

The Realtor Magazine and the National Association of Realtor's Houselogic.com determined that optimizing space in houses will draw buyers but also give homeowners the most bang for their buck.

The "2011-2012 Cost vs. Value Report" analyzed the estimated costs and expected resale return on 35 midrange and upscale remodeling projects in 80 markets. Although kitchen and baths projects are some of the most popular projects, they didn't bring the highest returns for homeowners.

Tampa Bay’s film festival season is now a double feature with two long-running events splicing their audiences together.
For its 12th edition, the Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival is combining forces with the Tampa ...

Tell people there's a new movie starring The Room's Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero. Assuming they're fans of "the greatest bad movie ever made," or at least familiar with The Disaster Artist, you'll have their full attention. Then comes the inevitable question: "But, wait, are they, like, serious?"

Before we never hear from him again, and almost certainly we won’t after Tomb Raider, let’s hail the name Roar Uthaug.Just the name. Not his movie.Has there ever been a more perfect name for an action movie director than Roar? It’s like a ’80s rock s...

Two staples of Tampa Bay’s cinema scene are joining forces with a combined 34 years of audience participation.The 12th annual Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival is now featuring the 22nd annual Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival...

Two of Tampa Bay’s longest running cinema showcases are teaming up, celebrities are showing up and the movie slate is looking up.Those are takeaways from Thursday’s lineup release by the 12th annual Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film...

A Wrinkle in Time arrives on gossamer wings with cult of Oprah uplift, far less magical than believing itself to be.The rabbit was pulled early from Disney’s hat when Ava DuVernay was hired to direct, the first African-American woman given a $100-plu...

The Shape of Water and the voices of women dominated the 90th annual Academy Awards, capping an awards season marred by career-ending revelations of sexual misconduct in Hollywood.
Guillermo del Toro’s horror romance claimed four Oscars for be...